And moving on to the Sept. 3 entry, "I am willing" continues some more !!

My morning prayer time began with "31 Days Of Praise" by Ruth Meyers, (a great little book containing 31 passages with specific themes for daily praise).  Today's subject was "people in life who seem to bring more pain than joy."

I have a friend who is struggling so much.  I see the pain in their life and it breaks my heart.  Yet I know that like most of us, a lot of their pain is in some ways self-inflicted.  As I was led once again to pray for this dear friend, I asked the Lord to help them, to soften their heart to change their way of reacting and looking at things (and do many of us need that, I know I do !!).

Next, I moved on to my Bible study--"Set Apart" by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.  The section I am on started out with a leper coming to Jesus for cleansing.  The Bible verses is was based on----Matt 8:1-3.  And what did it say in verse 3???  You guessed it;  I AM WILLING.

Time elapsed between my prayer for my friend and the loving reply from Jesus? About 15 seconds !!

I was pretty amazed, still am and comforted as well.  I can't believe this verse has "coincidentally"  popped up yet again in esponse to prayer.

Lamentations 3:22-23  Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.


Jesus offers mercy and compassion, not rejection.  Sometimes it seems like He doesn't hear, but He does.  And when we don't feel Him, or see Him, help us to remember that You are good and mean only good toward us.  Help us to know You do answer prayer, and let us trust Your timing and Your answers.